Nervousness starts to creep inside my heart as I stand in front of her room's door, while trying to gather the courage to knock on the door. However, even though five minutes have passed, still I am standing in the hallway of this hotel looking like a complete creep.

You can do this Jason, you are just going to ask her to hang out with you. It is not a big deal.Taking a deep breath, I lift my hand and knock at her door. Stepping back, I slip my hands into my pocket as I wait for her to answer the door. Nearly, after ten minutes she opens the door, and her eyes widen in surprise when she finds me standing outside her door."Hey." I smile feeling much better as suddenly seeing her face vanished all my nervousness."Hi," she replies as my eyes move to her lips while the memory of their softness which I felt against my lips refreshes in my mind.Biting my lip, I forcefully tear my eyes away from her lips as the brief kiss we shared flashes through my mind.Crossing her arms, she raises her eyebrows questioningly at me."Can I come inside?" I ask as look around the hallway.She rolls her eyes and holding my hand she drags me inside the room as she closes the door."So, what happened? What brought you here?" She stands in front of the mirror and starts running her fingers through her wet hair untangling them, unintentionally turning my attention to her slightly flushed skin which is probably due to the hot shower."I just wanted to see you," I reply honestly and notice a faint smile appearing on her lips which she suppresses by chewing the inside of her cheeks.The smile which I have seen on her lips gives me the hope that maybe things will not go wrong... my fears are for no reason.With this newfound courage, I walk towards her and place my hands on her shoulders while standing behind her.Locking my eyes with her through the mirror, I watch confusion covering her face as she glances at me."Will you go out with me?" Without beating around the bushes, I directly ask her as my heart races in anticipation.I watch her confusion changes into complete shock as she stares at me with her mouth slightly open.Placing my fingers beneath her chin, I gently close her mouth making her cheeks redden in embarrassment as she tightly shuts her mouth causing me to chuckle at her expression which I find adorable.Adorable? Seriously, Jason?"Like on a date?" She mouths still looking surprised."It is up to you, whatever you want to think." I scratch the back of my head, feeling a little anxious not knowing what might be her reaction if I said that it is a date, "I just want to hang out with you and let you show how special you are to me and how happy I am to have you as my friend...my guide, because you have helped me in a lot of ways than you can imagine." I sincerely share my feelings with her, hoping that she can understand how much I mean each of my words.An unreadable expression appears on her face which she quickly conceals behind her smile as she nods her head."Okay, I will come with you." She smiles as she tears her gaze away from mine.However, before I can say anything else my eyes land on the faint bruise on her cheek which resembled somebody's fingers."How did you get this?" Turning her around, I touch her cheek only for her to flinch back.Her reaction confirmed my doubt that somebody has done this to her, and I feel angry at myself for noticing this earlier."Who did this to you?" I clench my teeth as my eyes remain focused on the slap mark on her face.I look at her to find her silently glancing at her clasped hands in front of her.Fury surges through me when I realize she will not speak anything."For the fuck's sake, speak up!" I can't help but yell at her because the thought of somebody touching her is driving me crazy, "Who did this to you?""It is nothing." She lightly shakes her head as she grabs my hand in hers, "Don't worry about it." I read her lips not being able to believe that she has actually said this.Somebody has hit her and she says it's nothing?I will fucking kill that person who has raised a hand on her."You call this nothing?" I hold her face in my hand and gently run my thumb over her bruise, "Why can't you tell me the truth, Lina?" I glance at her, pleadingly.She keeps looking at me silently as a small rueful smile forms on her face then stepping closer to me she wraps her arms around my torso. Even though I am feeling mad at her for hiding things from me, but my arms automatically go around her body pulling her tightly against me as if I am trying to shield her."You are the most annoying and irritating girl I have ever met in my life," I sigh while resting my cheek against her head, "You drive me insane, yet I don't want to change anything about you. However, I do wish that you stop hiding things from me because it makes me feel like I don't deserve your friendship.""You are amazing, Jason." She leans back and lifts her head locking her eyes with mine, "And I feel so lucky that I have met you because unknowingly you have made my life so much better." She softly smiles, however, the sadness in her eyes creates an unsettling sensation inside my heart.Unable to stop myself, I press my lips to her forehead while holding her against my chest. My heart wants nothing but to take away her pain and watch her eyes shining with happiness.However, the fury burning inside me wants to burn everyone who has stolen the sparkle of her eyes."You know, I am there for you, right?" I whisper while gently running my knuckles over the side of her jaw, "Please, Lina, don't hesitate to talk to me."I feel her nodding her head, as her shoulders lift up when she takes a deep breath. Momentarily her grip on me tightens, then she moves away from me."So what you have in your mind?" Her demeanor instantly changes as she wiggles her eyebrows playfully. "Where do you plan to kill me and dump me?"I look at her slightly feeling astonished at how quickly she managed to remove traces of her earlier expression concealing her face with her usual playful self.This makes me question myself that all this time when she met me... was she just pretending to be happy? Because this is what the impression I get now when I watch this change in her behavior.Does she always hide behind her false exterior so that no one knows about her true feelings? But why?Million of questions running inside my mind, as I watch her talking animatedly to me. However, my eyes are not paying attention to any of the words which leave her mouth as my focus is on trying to figure this girl in front of me... trying to find who is real Lina?"Lina," I call her to gain her attention, "I will call you tomorrow and will tell you the time to meet me, and don't forget to pack some light clothes with as you might need them." I nod my head, but a small smile appears on my lips in spite of the turmoil which is stirring inside me when her whole face lights up with excitement.In the short time which I have known her, I have figured you don't have to do much to make her happy as small things are more than enough to bring a smile on her face. Things that might seem stupid to anyone makes her happy. She is a very simple girl, who doesn't pay attention to what others think or say about her, she seems lost in her own world to pay attention to them."I promise you will have the best time of your life and I will try my best to make your day memorable." Nodding my head at her, I gently caress her face. However, the unsettling feeling returns inside my heart when my gaze shifts to a faint mark on her otherwise clear skin.Swallowing the anger which I am feeling, I smile at her and leave from there. Although the protectiveness which I am feeling for her is demanding me to stay with her and keep her in front of my eyes where I know she will be okay. Because no matter what I will never let any harm come near her.

*************************************************

Thank you for reading.